Review: Stitzel Reserve Bourbon 31 Years Old
In today’s bourbon market, some discerning collectors chase age. Others chase proof. And if I had to guess, the center of that Venn diagram is pretty big, such that very old and very high-abv bourbon will turn a lot of heads. In April 2026, spirits giant Diageo announced a whiskey with stats so eye-popping, I…
Review: Dorda Coffee Liqueur
We’ve previously encountered Chopin-owned Dorda with its chocolate liqueur and now we’re back with the Polish company’s second expression, a coffee liqueur made from “100% Robusta coffee bean extract, sugar, and a blend of Chopin Rye Vodka and rum from the Philippines.” Dorda Coffee Liqueur Review The nose of the liqueur is rich with coffee…
Review: Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye, Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye, and Old Swagger Bourbon
There are plenty of people in the industry who can make whiskey. Far fewer have built a reputation on their ability to recognize exceptional whiskey when it reaches the glass. For years, Ed Bley earned the respect of enthusiasts not as a distiller, but as a selector. Through countless single barrels and private picks, he…
Review: Mijenta Tequila Anejo Symphony Series No. 3
Mijenta Tequila continues its Symphony Series with a third release, an anejo matured in the brand’s Symphony barrels, which are built using staves made from oak trees sourced from four different states — Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia — which are then toasted instead of charred. (This is virgin oak, not a reconstruction of used…
Review: Planteray Hogo Monsta
Truth. I’ve been sitting on Hogo Monsta for… awhile. Though it arrived in a tiny 25ml bottle, it came with a pipette and a story. It’s not a rum intended for you to drink. It’s intended to be used to enhance cocktails, one drop at a time. It’s only sold in 200ml bottles for this…
Review: 2022 Terrazas de los Andes Extremo Malbec
There’s this thing that happens when a winemaker decides that their vines, or they, haven’t suffered enough for their art. Some specific and slightly punishing logic takes over, and the next thing you know, someone is planting grapes 1650 meters (5413 feet) above sea level in higher Andean reaches of Mendoza, which is itself already…
Review: Marcado 28 Tequila – Blanco and Reposado
We’ve encountered plenty of movie and rock star-backed tequila brands, from George Clooney’s Casamigos, arguably the tequila that lit the fire for the Hollywood obsession, to Matthew McConaughey’s more recent Pantalones, among so, so many others. What we don’t see as much are celebrity chefs throwing their weight behind a tequila brand. Which, well, is…
Review: Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye 2026
Last year Old Forester began releasing its President’s Choice whiskeys to retail for the first time, at least on a limited basis. The two whiskeys — a bourbon and a rye — are now making their return to the market for 2026. The formula hasn’t changed. These are all single barrel releases, including a collection…